Rear sill assembly of a unibody pickup truck

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a rear sill assembly of a unibody vehicle. The unibody vehicle includes a floor assembly having a floor pan and a floor beam coupled to the floor pan, the floor beam having a floor channel. The unibody vehicle also includes a rear sill, and a coupling structure coupled to the rear sill. The coupling structure may include an outer periphery which is sized and shaped to be slideably coupleably received in the floor channel.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A unibody truck, comprising:
 a floor assembly having a floor pan and a floor beam positioned under the floor pan and coupled to the floor pan, the floor beam having a floor channel; 
 a rear sill; and 
 a coupling structure coupled to the rear sill, the coupling structure including an outer periphery which is sized and shaped to be slideably coupleably received in the floor channel. 
 
     
     
       2. The unibody truck of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vehicle pillar that is coupled to a side of the rear sill. 
 
     
     
       3. The unibody truck of  claim 1  wherein the outer periphery of the coupling structure is defined by a base flange, a first side flange extending outwardly from the base flange, and a second side flange extending outwardly from the base flange. 
     
     
       4. The unibody truck of  claim 3  wherein the first side flange extends angularly with respect to a central axis of the coupling structure at a first angle and the second side flange extends angularly with respect to the central axis of the coupling structure at a second angle. 
     
     
       5. The unibody truck of  claim 4  wherein the first angle and the second angle are different. 
     
     
       6. The unibody truck of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mounting plate coupled to the coupling structure, the mounting plate sized and shaped to couple the coupling structure to the rear sill. 
 
     
     
       7. The unibody truck of  claim 1  wherein the rear sill includes a first beam portion and a second beam portion, the first and second beam portions spaced apart to define a sill channel which is sized and shaped to receive the coupling structure. 
     
     
       8. The unibody truck of  claim 7  wherein the coupling structure extends beyond the first and second beam portions. 
     
     
       9. The unibody truck of  claim 1  wherein the coupling structure is coupled to the floor beam either via welds or fasteners. 
     
     
       10. A vehicle comprising:
 a floor assembly having:
 a floor pan; 
 a first floor beam positioned under the floor pan and coupled to the floor pan, the first floor beam having a first floor channel; and 
 a second floor beam positioned under the floor pan and coupled to the floor pan, the second floor beam having a second floor channel; 
 
 a rear sill; 
 a first coupling structure that is slideably coupleably received in the first floor channel; and 
 a second coupling structure that is slideably coupleably received in the second floor channel. 
 
     
     
       11. The vehicle of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first pillar coupled to a first side of the rear sill; and 
 a second pillar coupled to a second side of the rear sill. 
 
     
     
       12. The vehicle of  claim 10  wherein the first coupling structure includes a first outer periphery that is sized and shaped to be received in the first floor channel, and the second coupling structure includes a second outer periphery that is sized and shaped to be received in the second floor channel. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle of  claim 12  wherein the first outer periphery of the first coupling structure is defined by a first base flange, a first side flange extending outwardly from the first base flange, and a second side flange extending outwardly from the first base flange, and further wherein the second outer periphery of the second coupling structure is defined by a second base flange, a third flange extending outwardly from the second base flange, and a fourth side flange extending outwardly from the second base flange. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first mounting plate coupled to the first coupling structure, the first mounting plate sized and shaped to couple the first coupling structure to the rear sill; and 
 a second mounting plate coupled to the second coupling structure, the second mounting plate sized and shaped to couple the second coupling structure to the rear sill. 
 
     
     
       15. The vehicle of  claim 10  wherein the rear sill includes a first beam portion and a second beam portion, the first and second beam portions spaced apart to define a sill channel which is sized and shaped to receive the first coupling structure and the second coupling structure. 
     
     
       16. A rear sill assembly, comprising;
 a first beam portion; 
 a second beam portion spaced apart longitudinally from the first beam portion to define a sill channel; 
 a first coupling structure that is received in the sill channel, the first coupling structure sized and shaped to slideably couple the rear sill assembly to a floor assembly; and 
 a second coupling structure that is received in the sill channel, the second coupling structure sized and shaped to slideably couple the rear sill assembly to the floor assembly. 
 
     
     
       17. The rear sill assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first forward mounting plate that is sized and shaped to couple the first coupling structure to the first beam portion; 
 a first aft mounting plate that is sized and shaped to couple the first coupling structure to the second beam portion; 
 a second forward mounting plate that is sized and shaped to couple the second coupling structure to the first beam portion; and 
 a second aft mounting plate that is sized and shaped to couple the second coupling structure to the second beam portion. 
 
     
     
       18. The rear sill assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first pillar coupled to a first side of the rear sill; and 
 a second pillar coupled to a second side of the rear sill. 
 
     
     
       19. The rear sill assembly of  claim 16  wherein the first coupling structure includes a first base flange, a first side flange extending outwardly from the first base flange, and a second side flange extending outwardly from the first base flange. 
     
     
       20. The unibody truck of  claim 1  wherein the floor beam tapers outwardly to form an actuate shape.